TAUPO TIMBER INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12485, 1 February 1904, Page 6

TAUPO TIMBER INDUSTRY.

AN EXTENSIVE UNDERTAKING. The initial work in connection with the development of the Taupo timber industry is being vigorously pushed forward by the Taupo Totara Timber Company. , The capital of this company has been subscribed for the jifost part in Wellington, and the forests being operated upon consist of from 500 to 600 million feet of timber, largely totara, but including also a great deal of rimu and matai. The mill, which is now at work, is located near Waipapa. Mr. Tudor Atkinson (one of the directors) and Mr. Fulton (engineer to the company) have just paid a visit to the property, and they returned to Wellington from Auckland yesterday. In tho course of conversation with a Herald representative, Mr. Atkinson stated that some 50 or 40 men only are at present employed in connection with the mill, but that, of course, a very largo number will be employed when tho company commence to place timber on the market, which they hope to be able to do within sis or eight months' time. The mill, which was constructed to the designs of Mr. Fulton, comprises a complete and up-to-date plant, and its working capacity is estimated at 10 to 12 million feet per year. At present the work of the mill is confined to the cutting of sleepers and other timber for the tramway which is being constructed from the mill to Putaruru, where a junction will be effected with the AucklandRotorua railway line. The length of the tramway is about 50 miles, and the contract for its construction is being carried out by Messrs. John McLean and Sons. So far about 21 miles of formation from tile terminus at Mokai (the mill end) lias been competed, and the rails Lave s 'been laid for a distance of some seven miles. It is anticipated that the formation work will be finished by the end-of June, and that the tramway will be completed by about the end of the year. Up to the present six bridges have'been built, including a suspension bridge across the Waikato River, below Atiauiuri, the other streams being the Otara, Pokoi, Korimiko, Waipapa, Pukemoremore, and Onareiti. Four other streams have yet to be" bridged. At present temporary wooden rails are bein" laid, but these, wilt be replaced by steel rails as soon as connection is established with the railway line. The contractors are at present working nearly 40 horses on the contract, but it is.intended to employ a locomotive tor haulage purposes shortly.'